Free's review: Bad trips, smart moves highlight day

Race 2: Bad trip

Odds-on Thermal Nermal had a bad trip in race 2 Thursday at Santa Anita. Jockey Martin Garcia gave her a good ride in the early part of the turf sprint but made a mistake crossing the dirt. Rather than wait, Garcia allowed Thermal Nermal to move outside longshot frontrunner Mahalo Princess. It turned out to be the wrong move.

Mahalo Princess, a low-level claiming mare, blew the turn. She lugged out badly under Drayden Van Dyke, pushing Thermal Nermal eight wide. Hard to say if Thermal Nermal would have won, but there is little doubt she was eliminated. She finished fifth but fits at the same level next time.

The winner Le Fascinator ($13.60), the first of three Thursday wins for jockey Fernando Perez (fifth in the standings), was claimed by Adam Kitchingman (two-way shake); third place Burns Turn goes to Bill Spawr (three-way).

Trainer below the radar

Vann Belvoir has been a friend to horseplayers in the three years since relocating from the Northwest to Southern California. Belvoir won two races Thursday. Both were first off the claim. Since summer 2011 at major Southern California tracks, Belvoir is 76 for 504, a 15 percent rate and $1.99 return on investment (for each $2 win bet).

That is a break-even proposition, no handicapping required. Belvoir is even better first off the claim in So Cal – 23 percent winners (19 for 82), with a $2.18 ROI. Le Fascinator was first off the claim in race 2. When We Met ($8.20) was first off the claim in race 7, a $16,000 claiming route.

Belvoir starts 7-5 favorite Parada on Friday in race 1. The race is not very good, just five entrants. We’ll see if Belvoir stays hot.

Race 3: Babies

An impressive debut by 2-year-old filly Heart of Paradise stamps her as a soon-to-be stakes candidate for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. A filly by More than Ready, she quickly made the lead, set the pace, kicked away in the lane, and won by 2 1/2 lengths.

The final time for five furlongs was 57.76 seconds. Her Beyer Speed Figure was a solid 81. The top figures of the meet by a 2-year-old are Hollendorfer-trained fillies – Seduire (82 on May 22) and Heart of Paradise (81).

Bennett Jean was cold in the betting (5-2 program, off at 6-1), yet ran okay. She raced inside, seemed hesitant into the lane, kind of ran in spots, and finished more than seven lengths clear of third. Good try by the Smart Strike filly, trained by Ted H. West.

The 6-5 favorite Screaming Skylar, a full sister to Grade 2 winner Bel Air Beauty, finished fifth in a disappointing debut.

‘Star’ falls short

Last time, the pace was too fast. On Thursday, it was a slow start and an uneasy trip. Theatre Star has ability, but for bettors such as this one who considered her a pick six single in race 4, a mile turf allowance for fillies and mares, Theatre Star was a disappointment.

She broke poorly and steadied under Drayden Van Dyke, lost position, and was never comfortable racing inside and behind the pace. She still looked like she might overcome the trip when she turned for home, but pacesetter Kathleen Rose kept running wire to wire at $9.80 under jockey Edwin Maldonado.

“[Theatre Star] looked like the only other speed in the race,” Maldonado told track publicity. “When she missed the break, I knew we were going to be pretty tough. I was able to walk the dog out there, and nobody came close.”

Mike Machowksy trains Kathleen Rose, who got the opening half in 48.02 seconds en route to her fifth win from her last six starts. She earned a 93 Beyer for her 1:35.33 win. As for Theatre Star, she will probably be a short price against similar next time. Two bad trips in a row.

Last-second strategy

Joe Talamo deserves praise for on-the-fly strategy revision for race 7. It was a $16,000 claiming route in which frontrunner Macias was the lone speed. But he scratched at the gate (“off” left front). The mile dirt race suddenly was void of a pacesetter.

Graeme Crackerjack, never close to the lead in 32 previous starts, was put on the lead by Talamo. It was a smart ride in a race with zero pace. Talamo backed it up. With the half in 48.72, the slow six-furlong time was 1:13.33. Graeme Crackerjack fought back inside, but When We Met wore him down.

Regardless of the result, it was a smart decision by Talamo, who is riding like a guy who deserves to be the meet’s leading jockey. He is eight wins in front heading into Friday with more wins than seconds and more seconds than thirds – 140-27-25-20.

Voided claims

There were eight claims for race 8 winner Hobbits Hero, a 3-year-old running in a $40,000 claimer. He won the race, Ed Freeman won the shake, but the Hobbits Hero claim was voided when he was unsound in the post-race. He goes back to Jeff Mullins.

Al Baz and Photography also were claimed and also voided. Both return to trainer Vann Belvoir. An earlier voided claim was Cook Inlet in race 7. Number Five was claimed by Jeff Mullins (four-way shake); the runner-up Sir Macho goes to Bill Spawr in a two-way shake.

Pick six

Hobbits Hero was the only winning favorite in the pick six. The bet returned $60,347 to eight winning tickets. The $2 win payoffs were: $7.20, $9.80, $11.40, $28.20, $8.20, and $4.20.

Horses to watch

THERMAL NERMAL
Trainer: Kristin Mulhall
Last race: June 5, 2nd
Finish: 5th by 1 1/2
Beyer: 74

Odds-on in a turf-sprint claimer, this good mare was carried eight wide by a lugging-out foe. She was eliminated. She deserves another downhill chance against similar $25,000 claiming.

BENNETT JEAN
Trainer: Ted H. West
Last race: June 5, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 73
This 2-year-old filly ran well in her debut, finishing more than seven lengths clear of third while racing somewhat greenly inside. Good debut by daughter of Smart Strike.